Shade roller



192.9- s. HARTSHORN 1,725,270

sum: ROLLER Filed .Kpril 21, 1928 A TTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,725,270 PATENT OFFICE.

STEWART HARTSHORN, 0F SHORT HILLS, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO STEWART HARTSHORN COMPANY,-A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SHADE ROLLER.

Application filed April 21,

My present invention relates to shade rollers and particularly to those made of sheet metal and generally referred to in the trade as tin rollers.

The objectof my invention is to provide a tubular shade rollers which may be manufactured at less cost than heretofore; one in which the length may be adjusted and also to provide a roller of this character in which the attachment of the shade in proper alinement with its axis is facilitated.

These and further objects will more fully appear in the following description to be given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, in which like parts in all of the several figures are designated by similar characters of reference, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shade roller embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view the roller being r0- tated through an angle of ninety degrees from the position shown in Fig. 1 and showing the parts as they would appear when viewing Fig. 1 from the bottom;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1, showing the method of securing the tubular roller on the circular blocks;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a spring clip used to clamp the shade fabric in place; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5", Fig. 1, showing the end portion of a shade fabric attached to the roller and clamped thereon by the clip shown in Fig. 4.

In carrying out the inventionsheet metal strips of suitable length and width are rolled or curled in the direction of their width to a comparatively smaller diameter than the required diameter of the roller. These strips as indicated by the numerals 1, 2 and 3 in the figures are of suitable flexibility so that when the circular blocks or rods, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of larger diameter than the normal diameter of the tubes formed by rolling the strips are in serted within their curvature, the spring action afforded by the strips 1, 2 and 3 is such that the latter establish a firm grip around the several blocks. The metal strips 1, 2 and 3 are of such width that their longitudinal edges overlap one another, when fitted over the blocks, as illustrated in Fig. 3. With this process of manufacture, the longitudinal edges need not be seamed together or secured by solder or otherwise united mechanically, the tension created by the curva- 1928. Serial No. 271,665.

ture of the strips when opened slightly by inserting the cylinders within them, itself affording a substantial gripping force and maintaining the circular form of the hollow portion of the finished roller throughout its length. In this way, the cost of production of the roller and the time of assembly of its parts are materially reduced. To securely attach the tubular strips to the inclosed cylindrical blocks, pins or nails 9 are driven through the overlapping edge portions of the strips and into the Wooden blocks.

I desire to have it understood that the number of metal strips to form a required length of roller or the number of circular blocks is not limited, furthermore the roller may be formed of one single metal strip.

One end of the roller covered by the metal section 1, is closed by the wooden plug 4 which carries the usual journal pin 10; while the opposite end of the roller, covered by the metal section 3 is closed by the tubular block 8. Spaced from the latter is a third wooden block 7 also within the metal section 3 formed with a socket at one end providing a bearing for the inner end of the rewinding spring 11 and its shaft the projecting end of which also affords a bearing for the roller and cooperates with the locking device to cause the roller to maintain the shade attached thereto at any desired position of adjustment. The locking device consists of the usual set of pawls attached to the outer face of the block 8, and other mechanism comprising a tubular spindle, with the rewinding spring located withing the roller together with the rectangular spear secured within the bore of the spindle, as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 271,664 filed April 21, 1928, allowed July 6, 1929.

lVhen the roller is a comparatively large one its construction may be facilitated by making it in several sections, the latter such as 2 and 3 in the drawings being joined together by means of a cylindrical block 6 extending partly Within each of the sections at their adjacent ends and secured to them as before described.

Lengthwise adjustment of the roller is obtained by providing a separate short section at one end by forming the outer metal section 1 of the roller with a longitudinal slot 12 of suitable length preferably provided 0pposite the overlapping edges of the rolled sheet. A circular wooden rod 5 also of suittension of the surrounding tube. A pin or nail 13 is driven into the wooden rod 5 and extending through the slot 12 cooperates with the latter to prevent rotational movement of the end section and also limit the extent of its outward movement. It will be readily seen that the length of the slot limits the adjustment of the roller length and the inner end 14 of the slot 12 cooperates with the pin 13 to prevent disengaging of the rod 5 from the metal section 1.

In addition to the function which the pin 13 performs in the slot 12 in preventing rotational movement of the metal section, it also serves the added purpose of securing the shade to the roller, whereby the shade fabric may be easily secured at that end of the roller, thus obviating the necessity of striking a nail through the metal section 1.

With the above arrangement, the contracting tension in the metal section 1 is amply sufficient to insure a sufficiently tight grip of the tube around the rod 5 to give the roller rigidity throughout its length even for the maximum length of roller when the pin 13 is adjacent the inner end 14- of the slot and yet permitting the parts to slide without any looseness between them.

The attachment of the shade to the roller is accomplished in a simple and economical manner. Pins or nails 15 and 16 are driven through the metal roller and into the en closed cylindrical blocks 6 and 8 during the process of manufacture. A. plurality of pins, such as 13, 15 and 16 are driven into the rods 5, near the ends and at an intermediate point or points in longitudinal alinement and at the side of the roller opposite that at which the overlapping edges of the metal engage to complete the cylinders. These pins are left within their respective holes in the wooden blocks with the under faces of their heads located. a short distance away from the surface of the roller so as to afford their easy removal at the time of placing the shade on the roller. The holes bored for the reception of the pins are of such a size to provide sufficient friction to prevent the accidental engagement of the pins.

In assembling the shade on the roller, the length of the roller is first adjusted to the width of the window casing and the nails 13, 15 and 16 are then removed. If desired a line is marked on the shade fabric parallel to its upper end or edge and. at a suitable distance therefrom so that when said line coincides with the pin apertures, the shadeis roller as shown in Fig. 5. The pins-13, 15 and 16 are then pressed through the shade cloth and seated in the drill holes by merely pressing them into position by any convenient instrument.

The spring clips 17, 18 and 19 as shown in Fig. 4: are formed of spring metal and normalliy are of smaller diameter than that of the roller so as to securely clamp the end portion of the shade, in place, as shown in Fig. 5. These clips are each formed with recesses 20, at one end, which are made of such configuration that they snugly engage the bodies of the pins 13, 15 and 16, and are retainedin place by the engagement of the heads of the pins. The clips assure a quick and eflicient means of clamping the shade fabric in place, and as they extend around the greater portion of the circumference of the roller and hold the free end of the shade in contact therewith and are wrapped beneath the succeeding convolutions of the shade the latter will be satisfactorily held in place.

In review, the method of manufacture of the metal sections, the longitudinal slot formed in one of the outer metal sections, the rod slidingly engaging within the latter and the cooperating pin secured thereto, and the spring clip, provide, primarily, small manufacturing cost of the roller and also ease of assembly of the shade and roller, the slot, the wooden rod and the pin thereon affording ease of adjustment of the roller length and the pin in cooperation with the spring clip, ease of attachment of the shade on the roller.

A shade roller embodying the features of the invention heretofore described possesses the advantages of being light in weight, capable of being made smallerin diameter than corresponding rollers of given length com posed wholly of wood, and the tubular construction obviates the necessity of drilling a recess for the accommodation of the rewinding spring.

In accordance wi h the provision of the patent statutes the principle of the invention has been described, together with the apparatus which is now considered to present the best embodiment thereof, but it is desired to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways.

I claim: I

1. The process of manufacturingmetal rollers, consisting in rolling a strip of metal into cylindrical form and securing within the cylinder filling pieces of a diameter larger than the formed diameter of the rolled sheet so that the tension resulting in the cylinder is alone sufficient to maintain the cylindrical form on the filling pieces.

2. The method of manufacture of metal rollers consisting in rolling a strip of metal to a diameter smaller than the required diameter of the finished roller, and securing therein filling blocks so that the tension resulting in the finished roller maintains the cylindrical form on the filling blocks, the meeting edges of the formed sheet overlapping one another longitudinally of the roller.

3. A shade roller comprising a plurality of resilient cylindrical sections formed of sheet material, cylindrical blocks secured Within the sections, a cylindrical rod secured to one section and projecting therefrom and slidingly engaging Within an outer end section, the tension in the sections being alone sufficient to maintain the cylindrical form of the sections on said blocks and said rod.

4. A shade roller comprising a plurality of resilient tubular sections formed of sheet metal, cylindrical blocks secured Within the sections, a cylindrical rod secured to one section and projecting therefrom and slidingly engaging an outer end section for adjustment of the roller length, the longitudinal edges of the sections overlapping one another and the tension in the sect-ions being alone sufficient to maintain the cylindrical form of the sections on the blocks and rod and longitudinal alinement of the outer section in which the rod engages.

5. A shade roller comprising a plurality of contractile sections, formed of sheet metal, cylindrical blocks secured Within the sections, a cylindrical rod secured to one section and projecting therefrom and telescoping Within a similarly formed outer end section having a 1 longitudinal slot located at a point opposite the meeting edges of the formed sheet, and a pin secured to the projecting end of the rod and cooperating With said slot, the tension in said sections maintaining the cylindrical form of the sections on said blocks and said rod.

6. A shade roller comprising a plurality of resilient sections formed of sheet metal, cylindrical blocks within the sections, the tension in said sections maintaining the cylindrical form of the sections in slidable engagement with said blocks.

STEWART HARTSHORN. 

